Pouch Loading System

ABSTRACT

A pouch closing station is provided for mechanically closing a pouch having a pressure activated closure system located adjacent a central opening in the pouch. The station has a housing that is open in the front and back ends of the housing. The housing has a slot centrally located across the top of the housing for the passage of a filled open flexible pouch that has been filled with a preselected content. The pouch has an upper portion that is unfilled. The pouch closure system is a pressure activated closure system. A closure guide is located within the housing, below the slot to apply pressure to the pressure activated pouch closure system to close opening in the pouch as the pouch passes along the slot from the pouch entry end to the pouch exit end of the slot in the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is packing fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs and hot deli products in pouches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs as well as hot deli products such as BBQ chicken are generally packaged by hand due to the fragile nature of the products and as to deli products the space constraints in the deli or supermarkets and a desire to avoid soiling the packing during loading. Customers prefer such product not be heat sealed but be packaged in reclosable packaging to allow customer inspection prior to purchase.

Packaging machines are known. Such machines often employ heat sealing. The resulting package cannot be opened and closed by the customer for inspection. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,786 (Long). Packaging machines also are known for packaging fluid material in plastic pouches. See: US Pat Pub. 2005/0121009 (Hansen). Packaging machines that employ conveyers are also well known in the art. See: US Pat. Pub. 20120214658 (Chuba). There is still a need in the art for a pouch closing and loading system that does not damage sensitive fruit, vegetables and herb products that are can be reclosably opened by the consumer prior to purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a pouch closing station is provided for mechanically closing a pouch having a pressure activated closure system located adjacent a central opening in the pouch. The pouch is filled through the central opening in the pouch with a desired product. The station has a housing that is open in the front and back ends of the housing. The housing has a slot centrally located across the top of the housing for the passage of a filled open flexible pouch that has been filled with a preselected content desirably a fresh fruit, vegetable or herb product or a hot deli product. The pouch has an upper portion that is unfilled. The pouch closure system is a pressure activated closure system for example a zipper system which is provided by mating tracks on opposite sides of the pouch that is activated by applying pressure to the sides of the pouch to mate the opposed tracks, or a tape protected adhesive closure system which is provided by an adhesive applied to a side of the pouch for engagement with the opposite side of the pouch to close the bag on the application of pressure to the side of the bag after the tape has been removed.

According to the invention, a closure guide is located within the housing, below the slot to apply pressure to the pressure activated pouch closure system to close opening in the pouch as the pouch passes along the slot from the pouch entry end to the pouch exit end of the slot in the housing.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for loading and sealing a pouch having a pressure activated closure system is provided A flexible plastic pouch having a central opening near the top of the pouch for receipt of a product therein is pulled from a magazine dispenser containing a plurality of the pouches. The pouch pressure activated closure system desirably is a zipper or tape protected adhesive closure mechanism for securely closing the opening in the pouch is provided. The pouch is then releasably secured to the magazine rack for example by clipping the pouch to the rack and the pouch is pulled open. The pouch desirably is supported by a vertically adjustable platform that extends under the pouch loading system at a preselected height. The pouch is then loaded with fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or fresh herbs or a hot deli product such as BBQ chicken through the opening in the pouch. The loaded pouch is released (unclipped) from the magazine. The loaded pouch is then moved through a narrow linear slot in the pouch closing system having closure guides to contact the sides of the pouch adjacent the pressure sensitive pouch closure system to engage the pouch closure mechanism. Desirably projecting downward on either side of the slot is a closure guide that provide pressure to either side of pouch to activate the pouch closure system.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings and examples. However, it should be expressly understood that the present invention should not be limited solely to the illustrative embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pouch closing station according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pouch closing station of FIG. 1 looking from the right.

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 with a pouch passing through the closing station.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 through the slot.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment according to the invention for use with a mating track pouch.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment according to the invention for use with a tape protected adhesive pouch.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pouch closing station according the invention installed on a conveyer.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the pouch closing station of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a pouch closing station of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pouch having a tape protected adhesive closing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a pouch closing station is provided for mechanically closing a pouch having a pressure activated closure system on the pouch. The pouch pressure activated closure system is desirably a zipper system composed of mating tracks on opposite side of a plastic flexible pouch that closes the opening in the pouch when the tracks are aligned and pressed together. Optionally the pressure activated pouch closure system is a tape protected adhesive placed on the in side of the pouch opening to close the pouch opening when contacted with the opposite pouch side to close the pouch. Desirably, the pouch can be pull open and closed several time without deactivating the adhesive. According to the invention, the pouch closing station includes a housing that is open in the front and back ends of the housing. The housing has a slot centrally located across the top of the housing for the passage of the top portion of a filled open flexible pouch preferably a plastic pouch that has been filled with a preselected content desirably a fresh fruit, vegetables, a herb product or a hot deli product such as BBQ chicken through the slot.

The pouch has an upper portion that is unfilled and desirably a handle at its top. The unfilled top of the pouch passes through the slot. The filled bottom portion of the pouch passes through the open front and back ends of the housing. The pouch closure system is a pressure activated closure system for example a zipper (the mating track arrangement as shown at 56 in FIG. 1) which is provided by mating tracks on opposite sides of the pouch that is activated by applying pressure to the sides of the pouch adjacent to the tracks to mate the opposed tracks. Alternatively the pouch closure system is a tape protected adhesive closure system that is provided by an adhesive applied to a side of the pouch for engagement with the opposite side of the pouch to close the bag on the application of pressure to the side of the bag after the tape has been removed. See FIG. 10.

According to the invention, a closure guide is located within the housing, below the slot to apply pressure to the pressure activated pouch closure system to close the pouch as the top of the pouch passes along the slot from the pouch entry end of the slot to the pouch exit end of the slot in the housing. When the pouch closure system is the zipper (mating track) embodiment, preferably a number of cylindrical rods desirably at least three rods preferably five rods or more offset from one another are provided for example three rods below one side of the slot and two rods below the opposite side of the slot. The rods extend downward from the both sides of the slot and extend into the open housing to contact the sides of the filled pouch having mating tracks to press the tracks together and securely close the pouch. The track portion the pouch is then mated. Desirably when the pouch passes the offset rods, the track portion of the pouch travels in a serpentine path to enhance mating of the opposed tracks.

In the adhesive embodiment, the closure guide preferably includes a first and a second opposed closure guides located below the slot and extending downward from opposed sidewalls of the slot. The first closure guide has an increasing height from the front end of the slot to a maximum height at the back end of the slot. The adhesive side of the pouch is firmly pressed against the opposite side of the pouch to securely close the opening.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for loading and sealing a pouch having pressure activated closure system is provided A flexible plastic pouch having a central opening for loading preselected product therein is pulled from a magazine dispenser containing a plurality of the pouches. The pouch pressure activated closure system desirably is a zipper or tape protected adhesive closure mechanism for securely closing the opening the pouch. The pouch is then releasably secured to the magazine rack for example by clipping same to the rack and the pouch is pulled open. The pouch sits on an vertically adjustable platform that extend under the pouch loading system described at a preselected height. The pouch is then loaded with fresh fruit, vegetable or herb product or a optionally a hot deli product through the central opening in the pouch. The loaded pouch is released (unclipped)from the magazine, The loaded pouch is then moved through a narrow linear slot in the pouch closing station to contact the sides of said pouch to engage the closure pouch mechanism. Desirably projecting down from either side of the slot is a closure guide that provides pressure to either side of pouch to activate the pouch closure system. Desirably, closure guides project downward from either side of the narrow linear slot in the housing for example three (3) to five (5) cylindrical rods for the mating track system which cause the pouch portion having the pressure activated closure system to travel in a serpentine path to enhance mating the tracks.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, a pouch closing station 10 according to the invention is provided. The closing station 10 includes a housing that is composed of sidewalls 32 and 34 and left and right safety guides 28 that form a slot 20 for the passage of the top of a pouch 24 in the top of the housing. The pouch 24 includes a central opening and a pressure activated closure system desirably is a zipper 56 or tape protected adhesive 58 closure mechanism for securely closing the opening the pouch The housing has an open left and right side and an open central portion that allows the passage of a filled pouch 24 through the slot and through the closing station 10. Platform 16 is desirably provided for supporting the pouch 24 during loading and moving the pouch 24 through the slot 20. Desirably, the platform is vertically adjustable to handle pouches of varying sizes that has been filled to a desired height. Closing guides 36 and 38 are attached to left and right slot side walls 32 and extend below the slot 20 and adjacent thereto. At least two (2) closure guides 36 and 38 are provided, one on each side of the slot to define a channel beneath the slot 20, for contacting the sides of the pouch 24 adjacent the closure mechanisms 56 or 58 as the pouch passes through the pouch closing station 10. Bottom safety guides 30 are provided below the closure guides 36 and 38.

Closure guides generally shown as 36 and 38 vary depending on the type of closure mechanism that is contained on the pouch 24. There are generally two (2) types of closure mechanism contemplated for use on the pouch 24 according to the invention. First, for a zipper 56 (mating track) closing mechanism which is composed of mating tracks on either side of the opening of the pouch which mate together on compression to close the pouch when pressure is applied on either side of the tracks, the closure guides 40 as shown generally in FIG. 5 are used. As best seen in FIG. 5, the closure system for a zipper pouch includes plurality of spaced opposed rods 40 located on either side of the slot 20 below slot 20. The zipper pouch is desirably made of a flexible plastic. There are preferably at least three (3) rods 40, desirably five (5) rods or more. The rods are spaced apart so that when the pouch is moved through the slot 20, the attached pouch closure system travels around rods through a serpentine path so that the tracks on the zipper pouch on either side of the pouch more easily align and thus are engaged. The pouch 24 as it passes the cylindrical rods 40 on either side of the top of the pouch, flexes to assist in the engagement of the tracks.

Second for a tape protected adhesive closure mechanism 58, the closure guides 50 and 52 are best seen in FIG. 6. As best seen in Fig, 10 the tape protected adhesive pouch closing mechanism 58 includes a flap 66 containing an adhesive protected by a removable tape 60. The tape is removed and the flap is folded up to contact the adhesive to the top of the pouch 24 and close off opening 64. The pouch is then move through slot 20 in the pouch closing station 10. The closure guide 50 desirably has a upwardly sloping top surface to first push the adhesive side of the pouch to contact the nonadhesive side of the pouch and then as the vertical height increases, provide additional the pressure to close the pouch and adhere the two (2) sides together. The low point of guide 50 is selected to contact the pouch at the location of the adhesive to ensure initial contact of the adhesive side of the bag with the nonadhesive side. The second guide 52 is desirably rectangular and applies pressure to the non adhesive side of the pouch.

As best seen in FIG. 1, an optional pouch magazine 12 is provided. The magazine holds pouches 24 for loading by the technician with a fresh fruit, fresh vegetable or herbs or a cooked deli product such as a BBQ chicken. Optionally, a clip 13 is provided in conjunction with the magazine 12 to secure the pouches 24 to the magazine 12. During loading, a pouch is pulled open and then secured by clip 13 and loaded and then pulled from the clip 13 and passed through the pouch closing station 10.

In operation, the pouch 24 is loaded in the pouch closing station by opening a pouch at the magazine and loading same with a product preferably a consumable product desirably a food product such as a deli product eg. a roasted chicken or a fresh vegetable or a fruit product. A filled loaded bag is then taken by the technician and the top part of the pouch is moved along the slot 20. It is noted that the top of the pouch extends above the slot. The closure mechanism of the bag is located slightly below the slot where it is engaged by the closure guide. The closure guide, for example, for a mating track pouch engages both sides of the pouch which contains the zipper tracks. Desirably, as shown is FIG. 5, a plurality of rods preferably five (5) rods 40 are located just below the slot channel below the slot to engage the sides of the pouch moving through to apply pressure on the sides of the bag to engage the tracks and close the pouch.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 through 9, an alternative embodiment of the invention is provided in which the closing station according to the invention is mounted to a conveyor 54. Such an embodiment, the pouch is sealed and then delivered at the end of the conveyor 54 to a package loading station which may be performed by hand or machine aided.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only to the principals of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modification will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described above, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A pouch closing station comprising: a) a housing having an open front end and an open back end for receipt of a filled open flexible pouch that has been filled with a preselected content; said pouch having an upper portion that is not filled with said content; b) a central slot at the top of said housing to the allow the passage of the upper unfilled portion of said pouch through said slot; said slot having an entry end and an exit end; c) said pouch having a pressure activated pouch closure system along the upper portion of said pouch ; d) a closure guide located within said housing, below said slot to apply pressure to said closure system to close said pouch as said pouch passes along said slot from the slot entry end to the slot exit end.
 2. A pouch closing station further comprising; f) platform located at the bottom of said housing for supporting a filled pouch.
 3. A pouch closing station according to claim 2 wherein said platform is vertically adjustable.
 4. A pouch closing station according to claim 3 further comprising; g) a removable magazine for dispensing empty pouches having a mating track or tape protected adhesive closure system for loading with a preselected content selected from fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, or fresh herbs; h) said magazine located adjacent said first end of said housing; i) said station being a pouch loading station and pouch closing station.
 5. A pouch closing station according to claim 4 further comprising a clip attached to said magazine for securing said pouch to said magazine during loading.
 6. A pouch closing station according to claim 1 wherein said closure guide is a plurality of spaced rods located below said slot on both sides of said slot so that the upper portion of said pouch adjacent said pouch closure system contacts said rods .as it passes through said closing station, said pouches flexes and travels in a serpentine path around each rod to ensure pressure engagement of said closure system.
 7. A pouch closing station according to claim 6 wherein said pouch closure system is a zipper closure system.
 8. A pouch closing station according to claim 7 wherein the number of rods on one side of said slot is different that that on the opposite side.
 9. A pouch closing station according to claim 8 wherein three spaced rods are provided on one side of said slot and two spaced rods are provided on the opposite side of said slot said two rods facing said three rods on opposite sides of said slot.
 10. A pouch closing station according to claim 1 wherein said pouch closure system is a tape protected adhesive closure system; said closure guide includes a first and second opposed closure guides located below said slot and extending downward from opposed sidewalls of said slot; said pouch closure system attached to the side of said pouch at a preselected location on a side wall of said pouch.
 11. A pouch closing station according to claim 10 further comprising; said first closure guide having an increasing height from the front end of said slot to a maximum height at the back end of said slot.
 12. A pouch closing station according to claim 10 further comprising: said first closure guide having a height sufficient to contact said pouch closure system attached to the side wall of said pouch.
 13. A method of loading and closing a flexible plastic pouch comprising; a) accessing a flexible plastic pouch having an opening for loading preselected product therein from a magazine dispenser containing a plurality of said pouches; b) said pouch having a mating track or tape protected adhesive pouch closure mechanism for securely closing said opening; c) releaseably attaching said pouch to said magazine; d) resting said pouch on a platform to hold said pouch at a preselected height; e) loading said preselected product into said pouch through said opening; f) releasing said loaded pouch from said magazine; g) pulling said loaded pouch through a narrow linear channel to contact the sides of said pouch to engage the closure mechanism.
 14. The method of loading and closing a flexible pouch according to claim 13 wherein said narrow linear channel is formed by a first and second spaced top horizontal plate to provide a narrow linear channel and a first and second engagement guide located below said first and second spaced top horizontal plates adjacent to said slot to provide a lower width for contacting the pouch at a point adjacent to said pouch closure mechanism to engage said closure mechanism.
 15. The method of loading and closing a flexible pouch according to claim 13 wherein said narrow linear channel is formed by a first and second spaced top horizontal plate to provide a narrow linear channel and a plurality of spaced rods extending downward from both sides of said slot so that the upper portion of said pouch travels in a serpentine path around each rod to ensure pressure engagement of said closure system.
 16. The method of loading and closing a flexible pouch according to claim 13 wherein said preselected product is fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or fresh herbs. 